Is it legal? This is obviously the big question. Having looked at the regulations I ended up confused, but I hope to come back to an analysis of the law in the future. So, for now, never mind what the law says lets start with what 'the corporation' thinks. Fair play to 'the corporation' that on this occasion, at least, they are forthright in providing clear guidance. Note that this post was written in response to a question about the iPlayer but the answer is given in more general terms that clearly include any form of video podcasting.
"At the moment, the legal position is that you don't need a licence to watch TV [over the internet] purely on-demand, but you do if you are watching TV live (through any receiving device in the home)."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2008/01/iplayer_does_not_require_a_tv_1.html
What is interesting is the tone of the article; which exudes the sort of complacency that comes from an index linked pension. Does the 'the corporation' really not see this as a potential threat. Reading the comments to this post it seems that many people outside the higher echelons of Broadcasting House are aware of the possibilities. I am certainly hoping that they take a year or so to catch on. Labour might just give them a get out of jail free card if requested. A future Conservative government is likely to be much less sympathetic to the BBC; as semaphored recently by David Camerons statement that the there should be no increase in the TV Licence Fee.
This blog lays down a second ground rule that everything you read here will be advice on staying within the letter of the law. Of course if the law changes that position might change as well.
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Basic Techie Stuff
This post discusses the system setup I am using. It goes without saying that there are numerous ways this could be done and a future post will discuss the options that I am aware of. One of my hopes for this blog is that readers will discuss their experiences with alternative setups.
Lets start with the obvious: a broadband internet connection is needed and a minimum download speed of around 2Mbs will be required for reasonable performance. My setup uses a Network Router with a PC running Windows XP. Any PC that was bought in the last 5 years or so should prove adequate for the job.
I use a software product called Miro to download video from compatible web feeds. The good news is that Miro is available free and is easy to install. Once Miro is installed you can subscribe to compatible web feeds (for example Sky News Headlines). Miro then downloads new items as they appear on the feed and stores them on your hard drive (Sky News Headlines is updated 4 times a day). You can change the settings to control which new items are downloaded and which old items are deleted. Downloaded items are typically in MPEG-4 format. At present I have 19 feeds running and the total space occupied by downloads is 5.2Gb. You can also use Miro to watch downloaded items on your PC.
To view downloaded video items I use a Linksys Kiss 1600 Media Player. The Media Player is currently connected by Wireless Network. The Kiss 1600 relies on a software program called Kiss PC-Link running on the PC. Kiss PC-Link needs to be set up to look at the folder where Miro stores its downloads. Technically this is about as difficult as it gets. Once Kiss PC-Link is running, the Media Player can access any file appearing in the relevant folders over the network, this includes video, audio and picture files. The Kiss 1600 also plays DVDs via a front loader tray. The Media Player has a remote control which allows the desired operation while slumped in armchair mode.
The display I use is a 22" monitor connected to the Media Player by HDMI interface. There is a separate output from the Media Player to an audio amplifier and speaker.
Overall this works well. There are a few glitches and a future post will cover these. The Media Player cost less than a TV Licence so I am already in profit. At present I am not downloading movies or other long items as the download times could be prohibitive. DVDs are the thing for movies but web feeds work for fine for short items (typically 5 minutes) and are an ideal way of keeping up to date with the news.
A planned improvement is to install a hardwired network connection for the Media Player. I did have some problems trying to watch video while also downloading e-mail to the laptop, however apart from that one instance the wireless connection has proved reliable so far.
Internet: Pipex (download speed runs at 3.2Mbs)
PC: Dell Optiplex GX280 2.8GHz 2Gb RAM 80Gb Hard Drive
Router: Belkin ADSL Modem with Wireless-G Router
Download Software: Miro 2.0.3
Media Player: Linksys Kiss 1600
Display: Viewsonic 22" HD LCD VX2260wm
http://www.getmiro.com/
http://news.sky.com/skynews/podcasts
http://www.linksys.eu/
Lets start with the obvious: a broadband internet connection is needed and a minimum download speed of around 2Mbs will be required for reasonable performance. My setup uses a Network Router with a PC running Windows XP. Any PC that was bought in the last 5 years or so should prove adequate for the job.
I use a software product called Miro to download video from compatible web feeds. The good news is that Miro is available free and is easy to install. Once Miro is installed you can subscribe to compatible web feeds (for example Sky News Headlines). Miro then downloads new items as they appear on the feed and stores them on your hard drive (Sky News Headlines is updated 4 times a day). You can change the settings to control which new items are downloaded and which old items are deleted. Downloaded items are typically in MPEG-4 format. At present I have 19 feeds running and the total space occupied by downloads is 5.2Gb. You can also use Miro to watch downloaded items on your PC.
To view downloaded video items I use a Linksys Kiss 1600 Media Player. The Media Player is currently connected by Wireless Network. The Kiss 1600 relies on a software program called Kiss PC-Link running on the PC. Kiss PC-Link needs to be set up to look at the folder where Miro stores its downloads. Technically this is about as difficult as it gets. Once Kiss PC-Link is running, the Media Player can access any file appearing in the relevant folders over the network, this includes video, audio and picture files. The Kiss 1600 also plays DVDs via a front loader tray. The Media Player has a remote control which allows the desired operation while slumped in armchair mode.
The display I use is a 22" monitor connected to the Media Player by HDMI interface. There is a separate output from the Media Player to an audio amplifier and speaker.
Overall this works well. There are a few glitches and a future post will cover these. The Media Player cost less than a TV Licence so I am already in profit. At present I am not downloading movies or other long items as the download times could be prohibitive. DVDs are the thing for movies but web feeds work for fine for short items (typically 5 minutes) and are an ideal way of keeping up to date with the news.
A planned improvement is to install a hardwired network connection for the Media Player. I did have some problems trying to watch video while also downloading e-mail to the laptop, however apart from that one instance the wireless connection has proved reliable so far.
Internet: Pipex (download speed runs at 3.2Mbs)
PC: Dell Optiplex GX280 2.8GHz 2Gb RAM 80Gb Hard Drive
Router: Belkin ADSL Modem with Wireless-G Router
Download Software: Miro 2.0.3
Media Player: Linksys Kiss 1600
Display: Viewsonic 22" HD LCD VX2260wm
http://www.getmiro.com/
http://news.sky.com/skynews/podcasts
http://www.linksys.eu/
Friday, 27 March 2009
Video Podcasting can bring down 'the corporation'
So here is the thing: I dislike the BBC. Actually it goes further than that; as they say it is a thin line between love and hate. Something has been part of your life for 40 years and then you decide that a parting of ways is required. It would be easy to succumb to an irrational hatred. I have my reasons and they shall be set out at length in a future post. For now lets say that I see no reason to support an organisation which is antithetical to all I believe in.
So if you like me you live in the UK and are resolved not to pay the TV Licence Fee, you may be wondering what your options are. Firstly you could get rid of your television and make do with old fashioned ink on paper. Secondly you can just carry on watching. There are two schools of thought here, the principled approach is openly declaring your defiance and awaiting martyrdom; the less brave strategy is to make life difficult for the collection agency until eventually they give up and go away. However there is a third option based on a technology known as Video Podcasting. Legally you can download video from the internet and watch it without a TV Licence. This is an emerging technology and not entirely seamless but if you can get by in Microsoft Windows then you should consider this as a viable option.
Let me be up front, my objective is to bring down the BBC. Many of you will be wary of breaking the law and equally relucant to do without any form of television. If I can encourage you not to buy a TV licence then I will have made a useful contribution to making our society a better place.
This blog will be about video podcasting and its role in avoiding the TV Licence Fee. I aim to cover the practical, technical, political and legal aspects of this technology. Some discussion of the cultural and social aspects of podcasting will no doubt be included along the way. Discussion of programme content is extensively covered elsewhere and will be regarded as off topic. Any constructive input is welcome; technical expertise in particular. I am less than a month into this project and there is much to learn.
Within the blogosphere various terms have been used to describe the BBC (Biased Broadcasting Corporation is particularily apposite). Call it superstition if you will, but I would prefer not to call the thing by its given name. This blog therefore establishes a ground rule that the said state sponsored media organisation shall always be reffered to as 'the corporation'.
So if you like me you live in the UK and are resolved not to pay the TV Licence Fee, you may be wondering what your options are. Firstly you could get rid of your television and make do with old fashioned ink on paper. Secondly you can just carry on watching. There are two schools of thought here, the principled approach is openly declaring your defiance and awaiting martyrdom; the less brave strategy is to make life difficult for the collection agency until eventually they give up and go away. However there is a third option based on a technology known as Video Podcasting. Legally you can download video from the internet and watch it without a TV Licence. This is an emerging technology and not entirely seamless but if you can get by in Microsoft Windows then you should consider this as a viable option.
Let me be up front, my objective is to bring down the BBC. Many of you will be wary of breaking the law and equally relucant to do without any form of television. If I can encourage you not to buy a TV licence then I will have made a useful contribution to making our society a better place.
This blog will be about video podcasting and its role in avoiding the TV Licence Fee. I aim to cover the practical, technical, political and legal aspects of this technology. Some discussion of the cultural and social aspects of podcasting will no doubt be included along the way. Discussion of programme content is extensively covered elsewhere and will be regarded as off topic. Any constructive input is welcome; technical expertise in particular. I am less than a month into this project and there is much to learn.
Within the blogosphere various terms have been used to describe the BBC (Biased Broadcasting Corporation is particularily apposite). Call it superstition if you will, but I would prefer not to call the thing by its given name. This blog therefore establishes a ground rule that the said state sponsored media organisation shall always be reffered to as 'the corporation'.
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